Cat Chat With Caren and Cody is a cozy corner where cat lovers can grab a cup of catnip tea, curl up in a cozy corner and laugh, learn, share and enjoy a plethora of cat related content that includes book reviews, product reviews, cat health issues, cat related give-aways AND MORE! If it's about Cats, we'll chat!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Book Review:Travels With George:Paris, A Cat's Eye Adventure

What did you do this past weekend? Did you happen to go to Paris? Did you happen to have a highly intuitive, somewhat sassy and clever kitty as your tour guide? No? So sorry to hear that, you must plan your trip to Paris with George as your tour guide NOW. I just returned. My trip was a whirlwind excursion all through the eyes of George. George cannot type you know due to the one thing that cat's lack (thumbs) but author David Stone (who is George's "man") told us George's story brilliantly. Deborah Julian's ("the woman") charming and delightful illustrations were completely captivating.

George and Billy are cats who are brothers. George is the "big brother" wise cat who is deeply philosophical, ponders life with confidence and a touch of arrogance (I sometimes thought of Garfield the Cat here) and finds his younger brother Billy's insecurities and "dog-like" personality annoying to say the least. He is the epitome of the "copycat" little brother that has to do everything the big brother does, only lacking the ability to do it with finesse like his big brother has. (He reminded me of "Odie" from the same "Garfield comic strip! only much more fearful)

George and Billy are New York City apartment cats. Their world consists of window views, litter boxes, food served at the exact same time every day, toys and the love of their "man" and "woman" (as is the case with so many indoor cats).

One day while observing a pigeon outside their window George thinks "if birds can go out and do whatever they want, why are cats kept confined? Are the birds better than us? Are they more capable?" it turns out the answer is an overwhelming NO!

George is bored with his inside existence and wants to see the world! He doesn't care about the destination because all destinations lead to "outside!" He is resentful when his "man" and "woman" leave for various vacations (he always knows when they are going when he sees the giant suitcase appear on the bed and hears the "zip, zip, zip" of the zipper opening and watches the clothes being piled in). George vows that next time he will devise a plan where he can join them and "devise a plan" he did! Even "copycat" Billy who follows and mimics George's every move (much to George's annoyance) got in on the plan!!

I won't spoil the fun and say how George carried out his plan but it got he and Billy to PARIS!! "Paris is the world and the universe" "There are flowers on every corner."

George takes us on a delightful tour of Paris, teaches us it's history full of richness and Art (once again Deborah Julian's illustrations make this journey even more delightful!!) Museums, parks, flowers, food, of course the Eiffel Tower.....ahhhh Paris! Even insecure baby brother Billy begins to relax and "live in the moment" which cats seem to do so well but their humans seem to lack this ability which is wisely and duly noted by George. George and Billy even seem to grow closer on this shared journey.

George lives by the mantra of "if you wish for great things you must learn patience" He goes on to say "still, when my golden opportunity does arrive, I am ready for it, and I execute my plan with artistry and stealth. What an adventure I have ahead!"

What an adventure YOU will have ahead when you read "Travels With George:Paris, A Cat's EyeAdventure" Grab a croissant and your favorite beverage and allow George to give you a most historical and insightful tour of Paris (as only a wise cat like George can) Allow him to show you how to "live in the moment", "how to be happier from now on. We'd all be much happier if we all absorbed a little more like a cat"

Hi Mario! I think it was very good and with you being a "boy kitty" who probably likes adventure I think you will love it and "M" will too!Let me know what you think of it!Thanks for stopping by and reading Mario!

Very good...you are a natural born book reviewer. I have thouroughly enjoyed these reviews you do on books. Innovative and creative writing with your light sense of humor, just enough information to peak interest, but not enough to 'spoil':)

Ingrid thank you!!Now I can go and look up your review! I had David scheduled on my blog calendar when your review of the book was done and I didn't want to read yours before I read the book (I am very strange that way) I don't want anyone else's opinions or observations to come into play when I write a review.My husband read the book before me and I wouldn't allow him to tell me ANYTHING about it (other than I permitted him to tell me whether or not he liked it and he DID!!) He read it a few weeks before I did. I like to read the book right before I review it so that the impressions are fresh in my mindThanks so much for reading/commenting!

Hi Caren!! This is Lautrec over at Weezdabadcats...thanks for stopping by and seeing us and we are likewise happy to me you! This book sounds fun, but I think I would rather just READ it (or, rather, have Mom read it to me) than live it. Tiny, my house sister (not real sister) has done a lot of travelling...around the world, but she, too just likes hanging out at home especially now that she is nearly 16. She says the travelling life is for kids. But Mom thinks that book sounds fun and she said to thank you for sharing it with us. Purrs to Cody (how is his head?) from Lautrec and Tiny

Hi Lautrec and Tiny (Lautrec sounds French as well!) I hope your mom will be able to read the book to you I am sure you will like it! I am so glad that you and Tiny stopped by!Cody's head looks the best it has looked in a few weeks it is almost all cleared up, thanks for asking! He is still on antibiotics so the test will be when he comes off of them and is just eating the rabbit, then maybe the rabbit worked!Thanks for visiting and for commenting!

Thank you all for your comments on behalf of both Deborah and me, and thank you, Caren, for your insightful review. This book was a labor of love, as Deborah and I both love cats and Paris. It was great fun channeling a cat's point of view.

Deborah has a lot of cat art and other work on her website: http://DeborahJulian.Myshopify.com. Stop by. Sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Dave it was completely and totally my pleasure! I thank you for your kind words! I could feel the love throughout the entire book and to me that is an important feeling for me to feel while I am reading.Your love of Paris was obvious, your love for cats and amazing grasp of how we believe that cats think, for me was right on target. I told you I honestly thought it was a true story until I saw "fiction!" It was so believable to me. I so distinctly felt the different personalities in George and Billy and I loved that.I will stop by Deborah's site again and I am fairly certain I already signed up for the newsletter, if not I definitely will!Thanks again for allowing me to blog about your wonderful book!